Mechanical refrigeration



Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,885

(3. c. SPREEN MECHANI CAL REFRIGERATION Filed June 1926 Charles C. Spfeen 112M 22 2 oz 8 invention may assume.

- this extension 12 inlet 'and outlet shut-oil Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

P-ATEN 1,688,885 r OFFICE.

CHARLES G SPREEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

MECHANICAL BEEBIGEBATION.

Application filed June 3,1926, Serial No. 113,473.

My invention relates to mechanical refrigeration and particularly to refrigerant expansion units peculiarly adapted for use with domestic mechanical refrigeration apparatus,

and the principle object of my invention isto provide a new and improved refrigerant expansion unit of this type. In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one form which my In these drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the embodiment of my invention shown herein,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, while Figure 3 is a section on the lines 3-301 Figures 1 and 2.

The embodiment of my invention herein shown comprises an expansion drum 11 of the float type provided at its front end with a reduced extension 12, carrying on the end of valves 13 and 14; controlling the flow of refrigerant into and from the drum 11, containing means (not shown) for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant into the drum 11, and comprising also an enlarged section 15 serving as a header from which depend a'plurality of looped expansion tubes 16 arranged with both ends of each tube connected to the header 15, with the tubes 16 encircling and supporting a plurality of vertically alined containers 17 each adapted to receive a receptacle 18 for the production of artificial ice under the action of the refrigerant within the expansion unit, and with the tubes 16 oil"- set at 19 to cause the tubes 16 to diverge from each other in the direction of extent of the header 15 and containers 17 and receptacles 18 to thus permit the tubes 16 to subtend along the containers 17 and receptacles 18 a distance greater than the length over which i the tubes 16 may be connected to the header 15 whereby, with receptacles 18 of a length greater than the header 15, the usual practice in order to secure greater capacity in the receptacles 18, the refrigeration is extended over the entire extent of the receptacles 18 and the formation of ice 'in the receptacles 18 occurs comparatively uniformly throughout the entire length of the receptacles 18 instead of being almost entirely confined to the center portion of the receptacles as heretofore.

In the embodiment of my invention herein shown I also, provide means to increase the? heat transfer into the expansion tubes 16, and

ers 17 and receptacles 18, this means'comprising herein a series of plates20 corrugated in the vertical direction, alternated with the tubes 16, each secured to each of the adjacent tubes 16, and each comprising a base 21 disposed below the containers 17 and receptacles 18 in operative relation to the horizontal portion22 of the looped expansion tubes 16, and a pair of wing portions 23 rising from the base portion 21 on either side of the containers 17 and receptacles 18 inoperative relation to the'vertical portions 24 of he expansion tubes 16, the entire plate 20 preferably contacting throughout with the containers 17 as shown herein.

From the above description it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that I have provided a new and improved expansion unit particularly adapted for use with domestic mechanical refrigeration apparatus. At the same time, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the particular embodiinent of my invention herein shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and it willtherefore be understood that the disclosure herein is illustrative only and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A refrigerantexpansion unit comprising header means adapted for connection with refrigerant expansion'tubes, a plurality of refrigerantexpansion tubes connected at longitudinally spaced intervals to said header means and diverging in the direction of the length of said header means, and a series of corrugated plates having high heat conductivity interposed between said tubes and each engaging at least one of the adjacent tubes.

2. A refrigerant expansion unit comprisin g header means adapted for connection with looped refrigerant expansion tubes,.a plurality of looped refrigerant expansion tubes connected at longitudinally spaced intervals to said header means, and a series of corrugated plates having high heat conductivity interposed between and extending beyond the sides ofsaid looped tubes, and each engaging at least one of the adjacent tubes.

' 3. A refrigerant expansion unit comprising header means adapted for connection with looped refrigerant expansion tubes, a, plurality of looped refrigerant expansion tubes connected at longitudinally spaced intervals to said header means, and a series of corrugated plates having high heat conductivity interposed between and extending beyond the sides of said looped tubes, having recesses to accommodate ice trays, and each engaging at least one of the adjacent tubes.

4. A refrigerant expansion unit comprisin header means adapted for connection wit looped refrigerant expansion tubes, a plurahty of loo'ped refri erant expansion tubes connected at longitudinally spaced intervals to said header means, and a series,of corrugated plates having high heat conductivity interposed between and extending beyond the sides of said looped; tubes, having recesses to accommodate sleeves for ice tra s, and each engaging at least one of the ad acent tubes, and sleeves for ice trays disposed in said re- 1 cesses and attached to said plates.

5. A refrigerant expansion unit comprising header means adapted for connection with looped refrigerant expansion. tubes, :1 plurality of looped refri erant expansion tubes connected at longitudlnally spaced intervals to said header means, and diverging in the direction of the length of said header means, and a series of corrugated plates having high heat conductivity interposed between and extending beyond the sides of said looped tubes, and each engaging at least one of the adjacent tubes.

6, A refrigerant expansion unit comprising header means adapted for connection with looped refrigerant expansion tubes, a plurality of looped refrigerant expansion tubes connected at longitudinally spaced intervals to said header means and diverging in the. direction of the length of, said header means, and a series of corrugated plates, having high heat conductivity interposed between and ex. tending beyond the sides of said looped tubes,

having recesses to accommodate ice trays,

and each engaging at least one of the ad acent tube a 7. A refrigerant expansion unit comprising header means adapted for connection with looped refrigerant expansion tubes, a plus rality of looped refrigerant expansion tubes connected at longitudinally spaced intervals;

CHARLES C. sPREEN, 

